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Psyc372: Physiological Psychology

Instructor: Steve Meier  Ph.D. Print Syllabus
Office: Student Health 211
Office Phone: 885-7679  or 1-800-824-2889 extension 7679
Fax: 885-7710
Off Hrs Open Door Policy
e-mail: smeier@uidaho.edu      Best way to contact me.
   

TA:   

Course Description and Objectives

This course is designed to provide a comprehensive review of basic physiological processes and how these processes relate to behavior. The course will review techniques used in the field, human neural physiology and anatomy, plus basic concepts in neurochemistry. In addition, disorders and symptomatology associated with various neurological disorders, psychological disorders, and addictions will be reviewed. 

Required Texts

  • Carlson, N. (2010) Physiology of Behavior Tenth Ed.). Allyn and Bacon.
    (Rquired for all Students).

  • DeArmond, S.J., Fusco, M.M., and Dewey, M.M. (1989). Structure of the
    Human Brain, Third Ed. Oxford Press. (Required for all students).

  • Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (Fourth
    Edition). American Psychological Association. (Optional).

  • Outside Readings

All texts may be obtained from the University of Idaho Bookstore:  They may be contacted:

Grading/Evaluation/Proficiency

There are be several requirements for this course.

Exams
There will be 3 exams in the course. Each exam will primarily be multiple choice, but may include essay and fill in the blank questions. For the essay questions, you may be able to drop one or two questions (depending on the format) you find ambiguous or confusing. You will not be able to drop any of the other questions. Each examination covers only the specific section indicated on the topics sheet.   Cutting and pasting ANY material from a website will be considered cheating and result in an "F" grade in the class.
EXAM POINTS = 300

Anatomy
Throughout the course you will need to memorize units of various brain structures from DeArmond et al. (Generally, one or two per week). A quiz containing the list of structures for each figure will be placed on the Internet. Access these quizzes through Blackboard.
ANATOMY QUIZ POINTS = 100

Term Paper   ONLY REQUIRED FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS
The term paper will be an original work (not a revision) of a major empirical or literature review of any human brain disorder, or treatment for a disorder you find interesting. The paper must be ink/laser jet quality computer type, in APA style, and have a minimum of 10 professional journal or book citations
with no more than three governmental internet sources. The use of popular press articles can be used but will not count toward your citations.  DO NOT USE WIKIPEDIA AS A SOURCE. 
Each paper will be graded on APA format, clarity, discussion of the topic area, reference quality, and general approach to your presentation. You should make a copy of the paper for your records in case anything disastrous happens to mine. Minimum length = 5 pages, Maximum length = 15 pages  

Note:  This paper must be your own work.  Use of other students papers, cutting and pasting material from the web without giving the author credit, etc. is considered plagiarism will will result in an "F" grade in the class.

TERM PAPER = 100

Extra Credit  = 30 points
You can receive up to 30 points of extra credit by writing a 15 reference annotated bibliography on an physiological topic of your choice.  Annotated bibliographies are similar to abstracts of a paper.  Generally, they provide an overview of the topic paper you are reviewing.  Only four of the articles you review can come from the web.  All remaining material needs to be books or articles from journals.  Do not cut and paste materials from the web.  ALL EXTRA CREDIT IS DUE ONE WEEK BEFORE THE FINAL EXAM IS DUE

Grading

POINTS
Exams = 300
Paper = 100
Discussions = 50
Quizzes = 100
Total = 550

FINAL GRADES
Minimal course grades are based on the following scale:  However, I will also curve the class.  Whichever is better is what you will receive.  The final curve will ONLY be calculated at the end of the class. 

>89.9% = A
>79.9% = B
>69.9% = C
>59.9% = D
<59.9% = F

Other Information

You should know this is a difficult class with considerable material to recall and conceptualize in a very short time. Thus, you must utilize good time management skills or you will be in trouble very rapidly. This is also not a memorize and flush class. Not only will you be asked to memorize material, but, you will be asked to integrate and problem solve with the information you learn.  Past student comments indicate the exams are fair but hard.  Thus, you must study like this is a a live class.   

Finally, use groups to assist your studying. Individuals who have performed in the top 5% have always been in a study group.

Graduate Student Note

Generally, my expectation is that graduate students perform at a higher level than most undergraduates. Thus, a better understanding of material, work ethic, is to be the norm, not an exception: Individuals not meeting those expectations will be asked to leave the course.

CHEATING or PLAGIARISM

If you cheat on an exam, or deliberately plagiarize someone else's material in this class and I catch you, you will receive an “F” grade for the course and be referred to the University Judicial Council for additional sanctions (e.g., suspension/expulsion) DON'T EVEN THINK OF CHEATING IN THIS COURSE.

Schedule

 
DUE: Sept 1 Lesson 1: An Overview of Physiological Psychology
Anatomy Quiz for DeArmond Figures 1, 2
DUE: Sept 15 Lesson 2: Techniques used in Physiological Psychology
Anatomy Quiz for DeArmond Figures 3, 4
DUE: Sept 29 Lesson 3: The Nervous System
Anatomy Quiz for DeArmond Figure 5

DUE: Oct 6

Exam One Due (Covers Lessons 1, 2, & 3) 
DUE:  Oct 20 Lesson 4: Nervous System Specifics
Anatomy Quiz for DeArmond Figure 74
DUE: Oct 27 Lesson 5: The Spinal Cord
Anatomy Quiz for DeArmond Figure 99
DUE: Nov 10 Lesson 6: Glial Cells and Neuronal Structures
Anatomy Quiz for DeArmond Figure 21

DUE: Nov 18

Exam Two (Covers Lessons 4, 5, & 6)
DUE: Dec 1 Lesson 7: Neurophysiology and Neurochemistry
Anatomy Quiz for DeArmond Figure 38
DUE: Dec 1 Term Paper Due by This Date.    Set in Stone                                                 
DUE: Dec 8 Lesson 8: Disorders
Anatomy Quiz for DeArmond Figure 25
  Wrap Up

DUE: Dec 16

Exam Three Due (Covers Lessons 7 & 8)